Sole for footwear



Oct.'15, 1940. F.NUS$BAU M SOLE FOR FOOTWEAR Filed Nov. 9, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. fiflfll Nussbaum AGENT Patented a. 15, 1940 SOLE FOR FOOTWEAR FranziNussbaum, New York, N. Y., assignor to Leo Gottlieb, New York, N. Y.

, Application November 9, 1939, Serial no. 303,498

10 Claims.

My present invention relates to soles for footwear.

All known means designated for healing foot diseases, especially insoles, rely on the principle of supporting the arch of the foot. These means lift and keep the sunken and weakened arch lifted, thereby putting the muscles of the foot out of action with the eflect of further weakening the foot. Thus insoles can be only of passive and never of activating influence on the muscles of the arch, and they can in no ways be regarded as a correcting and healing means for the foot.

Correcting, and thereby healing, effect on the foot is only possible through activating it by functionally correctly rolling it on the sole, starting with the bones and muscles thereof in their anatomically correct position.

It is therefore the main object of my present invention to produce active flexing of the arch by activating its muscles. It is a further object of my invention to activate these muscles by functionally correctly moving the foot on a sole formed in accordance with my present invention after anatomically correctly placing the foot on the sole.

It is another object of my present invention to provide means adapted to give active exercise to the arch, especially means adapted to reactivate sunken arches, as it is only by these means that a real correction and healing of the foot can be attained. Still a further object of my invention is to achieve this correction by means adapted to force the foot to a functionally correct rolling during :15 its motion, thereby healing it.

Another object of my invention is to provide a form and construction for soles of footwear,

which form and construction is adapted:

1. To locate the foot in its anatomically correct position on the sole, I

2.To force the 'foot to a functionally correct rolling movement on the sole, and

3. To stress simultaneously the arches by forced clutching movement of the toes, thereby making it possible to activate the foot during its functionally correct, guided, rolling'movement, starting from its correct anatomicalposition.

In order to attain these objects I propose to 50 provide on the foot-facing surface of a sole memher a longitudinal elevation extending substantially from the toe end to the heel end thereof with the axis of this elevation swung from the longitudinal axis of the sole in the region of the toes toward the outer edge of the sole, and in the region of the heel toward the inner edged the sole.

It is hereby preferable to provide this longitudinal elevation with faces sloping at least in the regions of the big toe and the outer edge of the heel.

In a preferred embodiment of my invention I give the foot-facing surface of the sole member the form of the outer surface of a cylinder wherein the generatrix forming the surf-ace of this cylinder moves parallel to a line extending from the region to be occupied by the space between the third and fourth toe to the inner edge of the heel.

In another embodiment of my invention the longitudinal elevation on the foot-facing surface of the sole member is formed by a substantially plane face on each side of the sole with each face sloping toward thelongitudinal edge ofthe sole, whereby these faces are arranged in such a way thatthey intersect each other in a. crest edge, said crest edge deviating from the longitudinal axis of the sole in the region to be cccupied by the toes by being displaced from said axis toward the outer edge of the sole' and in the region of the heel by being displaced from said axis-toward the inner edge 'of the sole.

It should be understood that by giving the foot-facing surface theproposed Zorn this surface is substantially offset in relation to the lon- 80 gitudinal axis of the foot, thereby compelling the foot to roll in a functionally correct way, simultaneously attaining bythe twisting a correct stressing of the muscles of the arch.

In the accompanying drawings certain dwir-t 86 I able embodiments of my invention have been illustrated by way of examples; in these drawin Figures 1 and 2 show, respectively, a plan view and a side elevation of a sole with a cylindrical surface according to my invention,

Figure 3 shows a cross section on the line 3 of Fig. 1,

Figures 4 to 9 show various cross sections of the sole shown in Figures 1 and 2, said sections being taken on the lines 4-4 to 9-9, respectively of Figure '1,

Figures -10 and 11 show, respectively, a plan view and a side elevation of a sole with two plane 30 faces forming the foot-facing surface,

Figures 12 to 17 show various cross sections of the sole shown in Figures 10 and 1? said sections being taken on the lines l2-l2 to "-41, re-

spectively, of Figure 11, and

Figure 18 shows a cross section on the line lB-l 8 of Fig. 10.

The sole member 20 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has an upper foot-facing surface 2| having substantially the form of the outer surface of a cylinder. The crest line 2!, 22 composed of the highest points of the cylindrical surface deviates from the longitudinal axis 23, 24 of the sole in the region 25 to be occupied by the toes by reasons of having been shifted toward the outer edge 26 of the sole and in the region of the heel 21 by reasons of having been shifted toward the inner edge 28 of the sole. I have found that it is of advantage if this crest line 2|, 22 extends substantially in a direction from the region 29 to be occupied by the space between the third and fourth toe to the inner edge 28 of the heel 21. By arranging the cylindrical surface in this way this surface gradually slopes downward from the crest line to the region 30 to be occupied by the big toe and down to the region of the outer edge 3| of the heel, as may be seen from the cross sections shown in Figures 4 to 9. These cross sections, being vertical to the longitudinal axis 23, 24 of the sole, show clearly that the lowest points 32 and 33 of the upper face of the sole are in the region 30 to be occupied by the big toe and in the region of the outer edge 3| of the heel.

The cross section shown in Fig. 3 being vertical to the crest line 2|, 22 of the cylindrical surface forming the foot facing surface of the sole shows that the upper outline 34 of this crosssection is a part of a circle. It is clear that all cross-sections which are parallel to the cross section shown in Fig. 3 have also an upper arch shaped outline.

The foot-facing surface 35 of the sole member shown in Figures 10 and 11 is formedby two substantially plane faces 36 and 31 sloping toward the longitudinal edges 33 and 38 respectively of this surface. These faces 36 and 31 are arranged in such a way that they intersect each other in a crest line 40, ll extending substantially in a direction from the portion of the sole intended to be located underneath the space between the third and fourth toe to the inner edge of the heel. As may be clearly seen from Figures 12 to 17 the surface of this sole has its lowest points in the region to be occupied by the big toe and in the region of the outer edge of the heel.

The cross section ll-IB shown in Fig. 18 shows clearly the two plane faces of the foot facing surface. Also other cross sections which are parallel to the cross section shown in Fig. 18 i. e., those that are vertical to the crest edge 40, 4|, have a similar cross-sectional form.

As shown in Figures 10 to 1'7 the sole is provided with two additional elevations l2 and I3. Elevation 42 is arranged in the region of the inner side of the heel in such a manner that it is adapted to support the heel at the sustentaculum tall. This elevation on the inner side of the heel places the sustentaculum tall bone in the COI'l'vCt anatomical position and supports it in the correct place, especially at the beginning of the rolling movement of the foot on a sole shaped in accordance with my invention.

The elevation 43 is arranged in such a position that it lies substantially beneath the joints between the phalanges and the metatarsals of the first, second and third toes. This elevation in the region of the toes brings about that the rolling movement of the foot caused by the twisted surface of the sole is combined with a clutching movement of the toes. As this movement is the main function of the toes, it is important and essential for the correct flexing of the arch to combine these two movements.

As shown in the same figures I further propose to provide the foot facing surface 36 with a depression 44 having a convex bottom face and to arrange this depression substantially under the longitudinal and the transverse arches of the foot in order to prevent any support of the arches by the sole. Figures 14 and 15 show clearly the wall between the seteback raised portion H and the face 31 of the foot-facing surface of the sole.

It may be added that it is not difficult to use the elevations 42 and 43 and the depression 44 also in combination with the sole shown in Figures 1 to 9 and also this combination lies within the scope of my present invention.

The effect of the sole in accordance with my invention on the foot is the following:

1. The weakened bending muscles of the foot and the weakened sole muscles, upon which the tension of the arch wholly depends, are strengthened.

2. The overstrained stretching muscles on which the lifting of the arch depends, are relieved.

3. The transverse and longitudinal arches of the foot are actively lifted by the twisting of the sole and by the clutching of the toes against the additional elevation arranged substantially beneath the joints between the phalanges and metatarsals of the first, second and third toes.

Thereby the sole creates for the foot optimal physiological conditions.

The sole according to my invention is especially adapted for use in sandals or like footwear.

In this case I propose to attach the sandal to the foot by attaching means placed only in the front part of the sandal, crossing the width of the foot in the region of the main joints of the toes. These attaching means may be formed as a cap or may be in the form of straps. When walking, the foot rolls on the twisted sole and thetoes are forced by elevation 43 into a clutching movement. thereby pressing the upper sides of the toes against the cap or straps of the sandal. By the clutching movement of the toes, the pressing of the toe joints against the attaching means, and the support given to the heel by the elevation 42, an active flexure of the arch is produced which lifts the sandal to the foot.

What I claim is:

1. In foot wear, a sole member, a longitudinal elevation on the foot-facing surface of said sole member, said longitudinal elevation having a high region, and regions laterally thereof tapering therefrom to the side edges of said sole, the highest points of said elevation forming a crest line extending substantially from the region intended to lie beneath the space between the third and fourth toes to the inner edge of the heel.

2. In footwear, a sole member, the foot-facing surface of said sole member being formed as the outer surface of a cylinder, the crest line of said cylindrical surface extending in a direction running from the region' to lie beneath the space between the third and fourth toes to the inner edge of the heel.

3. In footwear, a sole member, the foot-facing surface of said sole member having the form of the outer surface of a cylinder. and the crest line of said cylinder deviating fromthe longitudinal axis of the sole toward the outer edge of the sole in the region intended to lie beneath the toes and deviating toward the inner edge of the sole in the region intended to lie beneath the heel.

4. In footwear, a sole member, the foot-facing surface. of said sole member being formed by a substantially plane face on each side of the sole with each face sloping toward the longitudinal edge of said foot-facing surface, said faces being arranged in such a way that they intersect each other in a crest line, said crest line extending substantially from the region intended to lie beneath the space between the third and fourth toes to the inner edge of the heel.

5. In footwear, a sole member, a longitudinal elevation on the foot-facing surface of said sole member, said longitudinal elevation extending substantially from the toe end to the heel end thereof and being formed by a substantially plane face on each side of the sole with each face sloping toward the longitudinal edge of said footfacing surface, said faces being arranged in such a way that they intersect each other in a crest line, said crest line deviating from the longitudinal axis of the sole toward the outer edge of the sole in the region intended to lie beneath the toes and deviating toward the inner edge of the sole in the region intended to lie beneath the heel. 6. In footwear, a sole member, a longitudinal ,eievation on the foot-facing surface of said sole member, said longitudinal elevation having a high region and regions laterally thereof tapering therefrom to the side edges of said sole, the highest points of said elevation forming a crest line extending substantially from the toe end to the heel end of the foot-facing, surface, said crest fine deviating from the longitudinal axis of the sole toward the outer edge of the sole in the region intended to lie beneath the'toes, and toward the inner edge of the sole in the region intended to lie beneath the heel.

7. In a sole member according to claim 6, an additional elevation on the foot-facing surface of said sole member, said additional elevation being arranged in the region of the inner side of the heel in such a position as to be adapted to support the heel bone at the sustentaculum tall.

8. In a sole member according to claim 6, an

' additional elevation on the foot-facing surface of said sole member, said additional elevation being arranged in such a position that it lies substantially beneath the joints between the phalanges and the metatarsals of the first, second and third toes.

such a position that it lies substantially beneath the joints between the'phalanges and the metatarsals of the first, second and third toes.

10. A sandal comprising a sole member, a longitudinal elevation on the foot-facing surface of said sole member,'said longitudinal elevation having a high region, and regions laterally thereof tapering therefrom tov the side edges of said sole, the highest points of said elevation forming a crest line extending substantially from the toe end to the-heel end of the foot facing surface. said crest line deviating from the longitudinal axis of the sole toward the outer edge of the sole in the region intended to lie beneath the toes and toward the :inner edge of the sole in the region of the heel, an additional elevation on the foot-facing surface of said sandal, said additional elevation being arranged in such a position that it lies substantially beneath the joints between the phalanges and the metatarsals of the first, second and third toes, and attaching means in the front part of said sandal, said attaching means crossing the width 'of the sandal substantially in the region of and above said addi tional elevation.

FRANZ NUSSBAUM. 

